St James’s Church, Piccadilly

St James’s Church stands on Piccadilly in the heart of Westminster, built of red brick with Portland stone dressings. Sir Christopher Wren designed the church in the 17th century, and its interior features galleries on three sides supported by square pillars. The nave has a barrel vault upheld by Corinthian columns, while the carved marble font and limewood reredos were made by Grinling Gibbons. An outside pulpit on the north wall was added in 1902, designed by Temple Moore and carved by Laurence Arthur Turner. The church survived the London Blitz in 1940 and was restored by Sir Albert Richardson, who also designed the pews and light fittings. The church has long been a place of progressive worship and community activity. In 1980, Donald Reeves became rector and helped grow numbers and momentum through the 1980s and 1990s. The community describes itself as a centre for spiritual exploration, labyrinth walking, Julian prayer meetings and an LGBT group. It has supported the ordination of women and the just treatment of asylum seekers, and in 2023 organised a drag show that drew some criticism. In 2024, the church presented a gold award-winning garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Inside, the west wall holds a grand organ case by Grinling Gibbons, originally containing an organ by Renatus Harris. The organ was rebuilt in 1852 by J. C. Bishop, and notable organists have included Henry Purcell, John Blow and Leopold Stokowski. The church also hosts regular concerts, with performers such as R.E.M. and Laura Marling. Southwood Garden, created after the Second World War, offers a quiet space for remembrance, and the churchyard has featured contemporary art installations and murals commemorating figures such as abolitionist Ottobah Cugoano.